Permanent Healthcare Assistant Ophthalmology, Minor Operations

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Title: Ophthalmology/Dermatology/Minor Operations Health Care Assistant

Accountable to: Lead Nurse/Operating Department Practitioner

Responsible to: Practice Manager, Partners

Job Summary

To assist in the provision of quality planned care for patients whilst under the supervision of a Registered Practitioner and within the limits of training and assessed competencies.

To support the smooth running of the clinics. You may be required to work at various sites. The duties include a combination of health care duties and administration.

To ensure the effective management and follow up of all incoming NHS referrals; handling of patient enquiries and requests courteously and efficiently and maintaining confidentiality of any information in connection with work.

Job Responsibilities

Ensure the rooms are stocked and setup as required and notify the surgical coordinator in a timely manner when new stock is needed.

Assist in clinics with patient flow, recording of data

Check all incoming GOS 18 from opticians, arrange appointment if appropriate or workflow to GP and check all patients are in diary for follow ups

Collect the patients from the reception area, conducting mandatory patient checks including informed consent, patients identity and operative site against the supporting documentation.

Where necessary check vision, install eye drops before handing over the care of the patient to the Theatre Registered Practitioner.

Adhere to the WHO checklist at all times

Blood pressure monitoring and phlebotomy

Accurate labelling of all samples and ensuring samples stored in appropriate containers

Recording collection of blood sample/ specimens in patient record in accordance with practice procedure and ensuring samples are dispatched to the pathology department by the end of the day

Prepare and maintain environments and equipment before, during and after patient care interventions including assisting clinicians during the performance of minor operations

Ensure the aseptic field is maintained at all times

Assist the clinician to assemble, check and prepare the appropriate surgical equipment, instruments, and consumables for a wide range of operative procedures

Prepare the appropriate area prior to the start of a list; undertaking the appropriate checks to ensure the equipment is used safely.

Assist in the safe transfer and positioning of the patient.

Assist with minor ops, simple dressings and suture removal

Assist the clinician in the monitoring of the patient.

Record accurate patient data on the clinical computer system.

Accompany the patient back to the recovery area, depending upon the assessment undertaken by the clinician with regards to the patients postoperative condition.

Clean the appropriate area and equipment between and after the operating list.

Assist in the appropriate and safe removal of clinical waste from the department.

Ensure the kit is packed away safely at the end of a session in preparation for sterilising paying particular attention to the safe disposal of sharps and other instruments that could cause injury to another person

Respect the patients dignity, privacy, wishes and beliefs.

Liaise with the GPwSI and or relevant clinician on matters relating to clinical care.

Contribute to quality improvement

Apply legislation, policies and procedures correctly.

Ensure any accidents or complaints are fully documented and that the appropriate manager is informed

Raise any safeguarding issues with the safeguarding lead in line with policy

Be confident to Stop the Line if appropriate

Contribute to significant event audits where appropriate.

Attend training sessions and courses as required

Admin Responsibilities

To respond to calls in a polite and professional manner

Registering of patients

To ensure that all new and follow-up patients receive an appointment within appropriate clinical and administrative timescales.

To ensure that an adequate number of clinic appointment slots are available at all times on the clinical system.

To monitor clinic cancellations, and to ensure the patients demographic details, clinic waiting times and other key data are accurately checked and actioned as necessary.

To reschedule patient appointments which result in the cancellation of a clinic, ensuring that clinic slots are correctly cancelled and reallocated.

To respond to any queries from patients regarding administration of clinics and appropriately refer any clinical matters to the GPwSI in charge.

To ensure discharge summaries are sent in the required timescale to the originating referrer

To ensure the use of the internal system and associated systems are carried out according to practice guidelines and procedures

To maintain appropriate patient records and spreadsheets including results and patient satisfaction

Processing of correspondence via letter, email and accurx

To assist with the collection and collation of data on needs related to health and well-being

Other admin duties as may be required either to comply with current service regulations or accepted current medical practice or in the best interests of the service to patients

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Good general education

Desirable

• Relevant NVQ3 or equivalent.
• Phlebotomy
• Basic first aid
• Basic life support certificate
• Safeguarding

Experience

Essential

• Experience within a health care setting

Desirable

• Relevant Primary Care or NHS experience.
• Theatre experience or assisting with minor operations
• Experience of working with eye patients and eye equipment
• Working knowledge of EMIS

Skills and Attributes

Essential

• Adopts a flexible approach to work
• Able to travel to locations across Cumbria on a regular basis
• Works well in a team
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Empathetic, approachable and professional
• Knowledge of Data protection and Confidentiality
• Prioritises workload safely
• Effective time management skills
• Calm and professional under pressure
• Computer literate
• Awareness of personal development needs and own limitations
• Uses initiative to take on extra tasks while demonstrating awareness of own limitations

Desirable

• Skills in ECGs, Blood Pressures and patient health checks
• Health and safety awareness
• Awareness of blood borne viruses

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Cumbria Medical Services Ltd

Address

Cockermouth Primary Care Centre

Isel Road

Cockermouth

Cumbria

CA13 9HT

Employer's website

https://www.cumbriamedicalservices.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)